Water gauge glass cleaner



Get. 9, 1956 D. C. DE HART WATER GAUGE GLASS CLEANER Filed Jan. 4, 1954lll'llllllllllllll INvENToR DANA C -c:le HART AT TORNEYS 2,765,659 WATERGAUGE GLASS CLEANER Dana C. de Hart, Hillshorough, (Ialif. ApplicationJanuary 4, 1954, Serial No. 401,933 4 Claims. (Cl. 73324) The presentinvention relates to improvements in a water gauge glass cleaner. Itconsists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts,as here inafter described and claimed. This application embodiesimprovements over my copending case, Ser. No. 369,296, which was filedin the United States Patent Office on July 21, 1953.

As pointed out in the above-identified copending case, the tubular glassof a water gauge, as utilized on boilers, will become discolored intime. This will preclude an individual from gaining a clear View of thewater level in the gauge. In solving the problem of cleaning the bore ofthe glass, without dismantling the gauge, the copending case provided anattachment. The latter included a brush arranged in the bore of thetubular glass, with a flexible shaft fastened to the brush, andextending to a position exterior of one of the valves associated withthe gauge, whereby the brush couldbe reciprocated in the bore of theglass to effect a cleaning thereof.

However it has been determine that the internal diameters of tubularglasses for Water gauges vary considerably, and there is a wide range oftolerance even for specified diameters. Accordingly, a brush withbristles is not entirely satisfactory for cleaning the bores of suchglasses.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a cleaner of thecharacter described, which is adapted to be inserted into the bores ofwater gauges of various sizes, and utilized for effecting a thoroughcleaning thereof. More specifically stated, a pair of resilient cleaningmembers are provided, each having a plurality of blades arranged toengage with the surface of the bore of a tubular glass, the blades beingdisposed to coact with one another to clean the entire circumference ofthe bore, when the members are reciprocated.

These blades are designed to contact with the surface of a bore of apredetermined maximum diameter. When the cleaning members are telescopedinto tubular gauge glasses of smaller diameters, the blade will yielduntil their cleaning tips conform to the diameter of the particularbore. Thus the cleaning members will accommodate themselves to a wideselection of gauge glasses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of resilientcleaning members, which are identical with one another. This will resultin a substantial saving in the cost of making the necessary molds inwhich the cleaning members are made.

. A still further object is to provide a flexible handle forreciprocating the cleaning members, this handle being adapted to beinstalled in a water gauge glass in such a manner that a section of thehandle will be magnified by the water in the gauge glass, thus renderingit easy for an observer to determine the actual level of the watertherein.

It is further proposed to limit the stroke of the cleaning member sothat the latter will not be moved entirely out of the bore of thetubular glass during the reciprocation of the cleaning members.

Another object is to provide a water gauge glass cleaner which is simplein construction, durable and efiicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.The novel features will be set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional water gauge,disclosing it as being coupled to a boiler, with my improved cleanerinstalled in the tubular glass of the gauge;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of my cleaner, a portion of oneof the cleaning members being disclosed in section;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the uppermost cleaning member, as seenfrom the horizontal plane IV-IV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line V-V ofFigure 3.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should beunderstood that various changes, or modifications, may be made withinthe scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spiritthereof.

Detailed description In carrying my invention into practice, there hasbeen shown a portion of a boiler .A having a water gauge B mounted onthe exterior thereof. This gauge includes a tubular glass C having itslower end placed in communication with the interior of the boiler by awater shut-off valve D in the conventional manner. The upper end of thisglass is coupled to the boiler by a steam valve E. When both of thesevalves are opened, the level 10 of the water F in the tubular glass willbe the same as the level 10a of the water contained in the boiler.Moreover, steam will be permitted to flow from the boiler A through thevalve E into the upper portion 11 of the tubular glass above the waterin the latter.

In their structural features, the valves E and D are provided with stemsl2 and 13, respectively. These stems are adapted to be rotated and movedaxially by handles 12a and 13a, respectively. It will be quite apparentthat when the handles are turned in one direction, the valves will beclosed in the usual way, while rotation of the handles in the oppositedirection will open the valves.

As shown in Figure 2, the water shut-off valve D has a threaded bore oropening 14 into which a nipple 15 is screwed. It will be noted that a Tfitting 16 is coupled to this nipple, and a pet cock 17 is connected tothe horizontal branch 16a of the T (see Figure 1). Upon opening the etcock, the water F will be drained from the gauge glass C. Normally, atubular housing 18 is screwed into the vertical branch 16b of the T frombelow.

For the purpose of permitting the surface of the gauge glass bore 19 tobe cleaned, without dismantling the water gauge B, I have provided aspool-like cleaning element indicated generally at G, which is mountedon the upper portion of a flexible handle H. The lower section 20 ofthis handle extends downwardly through the nipple 15 and the T fitting16 into the tubular housing 18, the latter having a closed lower end18a. When the housing is removed, as in Figure 2, the section 20 may begrasped so that an individual may reciprocate the handle and thecleaning element G.

This handle has sutlicient length so that the cleaning element mayoccupy a normal position adjacent to the stem 12, and thereby beconcealed from exterior view by the body 21 of the valve E, as suggestedin Figure 2. The upper section 22 of the handle is arranged axiallyrelative to the cleaning element G and the tubular glass C. However, anoffset 23 is formed in the handle so that the intermediate section 24 ofthe latter will be disposed adjacent to a side surface 19a of the bore19 (see Figure 2), whereby this section will be magnified by the waterin the bore, when an observer views the intermediate section of thehandle from an opposite side of the tubular glass, as in Figure 1. Thiswill allow the observer to readily determine the exact level 10 of thewater in the gauge.

Moreover, the offset 23 and the flexibility of handle H allows thelatter to be positioned laterally in back of the stem 13 of the watershut-off valve D. As the handle is drawn downwardly, the intermediatesection 24 will curve through the nipple 15 and the T fitting 16. Theoffset 23 functions as a limit stop since this offset will abut the stem13 during downward movement of the handle. The upper end 25 of thehandle is positioned to strike the stem 12 of the valve E, to therebylimit upward movement of the handle. The reason for limiting the strokeof the handle is to preclude the spoollike cleaning element fromaccidentally moving entirely out of the tubular glass.

Turning to the details of the cleaning element G, it includes upper andlower cleaning members G and G respectively, which are fashioned fromsuitable resilient material, such as neoprene. These members areidentical with one another, thereby contributing to substantial savingin the cost of manufacturing, since the same mold can be made forcasting both.

Each of the cleaning members provides a base 26 having a plurality ofblades 27 diverging therefrom, which define tips 27a disposed toyieldingly engage with the surface of the cylindrical bore 19 forcleaning the latter, when the cleaning element G is moved along thebore. The blades on one member extend in the opposite direction fromthose on the other. Each member has notches 28 located between adjacentblades thereof through which fluid (steam or water) in the bore mayby-pass the cleaning members.

With particular reference to Figures 2-5, inclusive, it will be seenthat the blades 27 on each cleaning member are disposed opposite thenotches 28 of the other member. These blades coact with one another toclean the entire circumference of the bore 19, when the members arereciprocated therein. Each member has the general exterior shape ofbeing frusto-conical. The bases 26 are abutted together. As shown inFigures 3-5, the tips 27a of each member form arcs of a circle at thelarger end of the cone to thus conform to the cylindrical bore 19.

In order to anchor the flexible handle H to the cleaning members, eachof the latter has a non-circular handle-receiving opening 29 extendingtherethrough. Also, the handle is non-circular in cross-section (seeFigure to thus prevent one cleaning member from rotating relative to theother. Pins 30-30 are inserted through the handle to bear against themembers G and G from above and below to retain them in place on thehandle.

Upon advancing the cleaning element G upwardly in the gauge glass C, thetop end 25 of the handle will abut the stem 12, precluding the member Gfrom moving entirely out of the glass. Of course, there will be nodifficulty in drawing the member G back into the glass again, when thehandle is pulled downwardly. In a like manner, the offset 23 will abutthe stem 13, during downward movement of the handle, preventing thecleaning element G from being entirely dislodged from the gauge glass.

It will be observed from Figure 3 that the notches 28 extendapproximately to the bases 26. This arranger ment allows the blades 27to flex inwardly without compressing the cleaning members. Obviously,when gauge glasses of smaller diameters than that disclosed in Figures 1and 2 are used, the blades 27 will yield to allow them to be telescopedinto the smaller tubular glasses.

From the practical commercial aspect, the flexible handle H may befurnished to take care of the longest length of tubular glass to beutilized on water gauges of this type. When the cleaning element G isarranged adjacent to the valve stem 12, as shown in Figure 2, the lowersection 20 of the handle should extend somewhat below the T fitting 16to permit an individual to grasp this section of the handle. Obviously,when shorter tubular glasses are employed, the excess length of thehandle may be easily cut OE. With this arrangement, the tubular housing18 may be relatively short, regardless of the overall length of thegauge glass selected.

Summary of operation Assuming that the entire device has been assembledin the manner disclosed in Figure l, and that the bore 19 of the tubularglass C has become discolored, the steps of cleaning the glass issummarized briefly as follows:

Initially, the water shut-off valve D and the steam valve E are closedby turning their respective handles 13a and 12a in the proper direction.Next, the pet cock 17 is opened to permit the column of water F to drainfrom the tubular glass. Thereafter, the pet cock should be closed andthe tubular housing 18 removed from the T fitting 16. Now the handle Hand its spool-like cleaning element G are reciprocated one or more timesin the bore 19, as required, until the surface of the latter has beencleaned by the blades 27.

When steam pressure is present in the boiler A, the valve E should beopened slightly as the next step. This will result in blowing thesediment out through the bottom of the T fitting, while the cleaningelement remains at the bottom of its stroke. In the event that no steampressure is contained in the boiler, the valve D may be opened to allowwater from the boiler to wash the sediment out through the T fitting.

In either case, after the tubular glass has been cleaned and thesediment removed, the handle H is pushed upwardly until the cleaningelement G is arranged adjacent ot the stem 12, thereby concealing theelement G within the valve body 21. Now the housing 18 is screwed intothe bottom of the T fitting to enclose the projecting end of the handle.

Subsequently, the valves D and E may be opened. This will permit waterfrom the boiler A to enter through the valve D until the water level 10in the gauge glass C corresponds with the water level 10a in the boiler,as shown in Figure 1. The notches 28 in the members G and G will permitsteam to by-pass the spool-like cleaning element G without obstruction.

I claim:

1. The combination with a pair of spaced-apart valves each having astem; and a tubular gauge glass having its end sections coupled to thevalves; of a pair of resilient cleaning members disposed in the bore ofthe glass gauge; each cleaning member providing a base having aplurality of blades diverging outwardly therefrom; the blades on onemember extending in the opposite direction from those on the other; theblades on both members defining tips disposed to yieldingly engage withthe surface of the bore; the blades coacting with one another to cleanthe entire circumference of the bore, when the members are reciprocatedtherein; and a flexible handle secured to both cleaning members toanchor them into a unitary structure; this handle having an end sectionextending to a position exterior of one of the valves for operationthereof; the handle defining an end disposed to abut the stem of onevalve to preclude one of the cleaning members from moving entirely outof the gauge glass, when the members are moved toward that valve stem;the handle being fashioned with an oifset therein, defining a stop,Which is positioned to engage with the stem of the other valve toprevent the other cleaning member from being entirely dislodged from thegauge glass, when the cleaning members are moved toward the lattervalve.

2. In a water gauge glass cleaner: a pair of resilient cleaning membersadapted to slide in the cylindrical bores of various diameters oftubular glass gauges; each member having the general exterior shape ofbeing frustoconical, and providing a base having a plurality of bladesdiverging outwardly therefrom; the bases abutting one another the bladeson one member extending in the opposite direction from those on theother; the blades on each member defining tips forming arcs of a circleat the larger end of the cone and being disposed to conform with andyieldingly engage with the surface of the selected bore for cleaning thelatter, when the members are reciprocated in the bore; each memberhaving notches located between adjacent blades thereof through whichfluid in the bore may by-pass the cleaning members; the blades on eachmember being disposed opposite the notches of the other member; theblades coacting with one another to clean the entire circumference ofthe bore, when the members are reciprocated therein; and a flexiblehandle having one end section thereof arranged axially of and secured toboth cleaning members to anchor them into a unitary structure; thehandle having an intermediate section disposed laterally relative to theextended axes of the cleaning members; the handle defining an offsetinterconnecting said sections and providing a valve stem abutment stop.

3. The combination with a pair of spaced-apart valves, each having astem; and a tubular water gauge glass having its ends coupled to thevalves; the gauge glass having a bore communicating with the interiorsof the valves; one of the valves having a body fashioned with an openinglocated on the opposite side of its stem from that of the gauge glass;of a glass cleaner comprising: a pair of resilient cleaning membersdisposed in the bore of the glass gauge; each cleaning member providinga base having a plurality of blade diverging outwardly therefrom; thebases abutting one another the blades of one member extending in theopposite direction from those on the other member; the blades on bothmembers defining tips disposed to yieldingly engage with the surface ofthe gauge bore; the blades coacting with one another to ciean the entirecircumference of said bore; and a flexible handle secured to bothcleaning members to anchor them into a unitary structure; the handlehaving an intermediate section passing laterally to one side of the stemof that valve in which said opening is provided; the handle thenextending through said opening to a position exteriorly of said valvebody for operation.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, in which the intermediatesection of the handle is disposed adjacent to one side of said bore ofthe gauge glass, whereby this section will be magnified by watercontained in the bore, when an observer views the intermediate sectionof the handle through the opposite side of the glass; the handle havingan offset therein constituting a stop arranged to abut the stem of thevalve having the opening in its body to limit withdrawal of the cleaningmembers from the bore of the glass gauge towards this valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS210,261 Kunkle Nov. 26, 1878 640,442 Clarke Jan. 2, 1900 753,189Buckelew Feb. 23, 1904 1,065,174 Schick June 17, 1913 1,595,021 PlunkettAug. 3, 1926 1,958,604 Barber May 15, 1934

